Paper bag dispenser



Dec. 7, 1954 B 2,696,325

PAFJER BAG DISPENSER Filed Oct. 1, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l 45 IN VEN TOR.

5 JbaZ T Zezez" Dec. 7, 1954 J. E. BEKER PAPER BAG DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1949 I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent PAPER BAG DISPENSER John E. Beier, Chicago, Ill. Application October 1, 1949, Serial No. 119,028

2 Claims. (Cl. 221-55) This invention relates to containers and container dispensers, and concerns more particularly a disposal unit for so-called sanitary napkins and the like.

In the provision of disposal units for use by the general public, certain problems are presented. Particular problems are presented in providing a satisfactory disposal unit, for catamenial pads or so-called sanitary napkins to be discarded, for use by the general or traveling public, for example in automobile filling stations or other public or semi-public rest rooms. A disposal unit must be provided of low cost operation, of ready convenience and accessibility, and wherein the manner of use of theunit may be readily understood.

In accordance with the present invention a disposal unit for sanitary napkins or like objects to be disposed of or discarded, is provided, meeting the foregoing requirements, and other requirements incident to its intended use.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a disposal unit, and more particularly a paper container and associated dispenser assembly, of the type defined, of improved operation and construction.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved container and dispenser assembly, of the type defined, which is sanitary and appealing, durable and rugged, convenient and easily understood in use, easily refilled, and of low cost in operation.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of a container and associated dispensing unit, constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of, the present invention, according to one preferred embodiment thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged. vertical sectional view of the assembly of Fig. 1, taken as indicated by the line 22 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a flexure spring forming a part of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the mounting plate forming a part of the dispensing unit;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure of Fig. 2 on the line 5-5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a part of the structure, taken as indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view of one of the paper containers forming a part of the assembly of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of the paper container shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the container or bag, taken as indicated by the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the container on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an illustrative view showing the first step in the method of fabricating the bag or container of Figs. 71(), in accordance with one preferred embodiment;

Fig. 12 is an illustrative view, on an enlarged scale, showing a subsequent step in the operation;

i3 is a detail perspective view more particularly showing the manner of fabricating the bottom portion of the bag, with its associated pull tab; and

" ice Fig. 14 is a similar perspective view showing the bag bottom portion in its final or completed form.

The container and dispenser assembly, hereinafter to be more particularly described, is adapted in certain of its aspects for various uses and utility, whereas in other aspects the assembly is particularly adapted for the uses hereinbefore discussed, as will be understood.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2 a container and dispenser assembly is illustrated, which comprises a disposal unit of the type set forth; the assembly more specifically comprising a dispenser generally indicated by the numeral 10, and a plurality of paper containers or bags 12 disposed therein in superposed relation, and arranged for individual removal. More specifically, the dispenser or dispenser unit 10 comprises a front casing 14 having end and side walls, and a rearwardly disposed mounting plate 16 by which the casing 14 is supported.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the mounting plate 16 is preferably of metal and may be suitably mounted upon a wall structure, such as indicated at 18, Fig. 2, by means of screws 20 which fit within key-hole slots 22 in the mounting plate. By reason of this arrangement the mounting plate is firmly supported upon the wall structure, and yet can be easily removed. should the occasion require. The plate is provided at its bottom with a horizontal ledge 24, and along its sides with L-sliaped flanges 26 and 28 forming cooperative support trac s.

The casing 14 is also preferably of metal and may be of generally box-like shape, open along its rearward face, the rear face being defined by a bottom flange 30 adapted to rest upon the mounting plate ledge 24, and side flanges 32 and 34 adapted to be supported between and slidable along the mounting plate tracks 26-28. By reason of the arrangement thus provided it will be seen that after the mounting plate 16 has been suitably mounted upon a wall structure, the casing 14 may be firmly supported by the mounting plate, while at the same time being readily removed therefrom by an upward sliding movement, for access to the interior of the casing, without disturbing the mounting or placement of the mounting plate.

The casing 14 is provided with a flat or plate surface 36 adapted to carry any suitable printing or indicia, such for example as instructions for use. The casing is further provided adjacent its lower front portion with an opening 38 providing a transverse dispensing aperture, the central part of which has an upward notch or cut-away 40, for a purpose presently to be described; and the lower edge of the opening being located adjacent and along the bottom end wall of the casing and provided with a plurality of upstanding lugs or teeth as indicated by the reference numerals 42 and 44 spaced outwardly of the sides of the notch 40.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the paper bags or containers 12 are arranged to lie within the casing in superposed relation, and are continuously urged against the forward face of the casing, as the bags are individually withdrawn, by a fiexure spring 46, the detailed shaping of which is shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the spring comprises a main body portion urged against the rearmost bag or container, a spring or coil portion 48, and an anchorage portion 50 arranged to fit snugly within a cylindrical boss 52, Fig. 6, formed in one upper corner of the casing structure, the coil portion being disposed adjacent the back or mounting plate 16 to thus prevent accidental displacement of the telescopic anchorage connection inuse.

The shaping of the containers or bags, in their final form, is shown in Figs. 79. Each bag comprises a rear face 54, a front face 56, plaited sides 58 and 60, an open top section 62, and a closed bottom 64. The front face 56 may preferably be provided with a plaque surface 66 upon which may be printed advertising, instructions for use, or any other desired indicia. Each bottom 64 is provided with a pull tab 67, Fig. 7, the formation of which will be presently described.

The method for making the bags, in accordance with the preferred embodiment illustrated, is shown in Figs. 1114. Preferably the bags are fabricated from an elongated paper strip 68 upon which are impressed score lines 70 for forming the plaited side 60, score lines 72 for forming the plaited side 58, transversely extending spaced score lines 73 used in the bag bottom forming operations, and suitable glue patches comprising an elongated glue strip 74, and partial transverse strips 76 and 78. The indicia plaques are illustrated at 66, and printed on the strip in longitudinal spaced relation.

At suitable "intervals the strip is severed by transversely extending serrated cuts 80 so that the individual bags may be formed by suitable folding operations along the score lines 70 and 72, the condition of the individual bags when thus folded being illustrated in Fig. 12. The edges of the strip are brought together and superposed along the glue line 74 whereby to form a seam 82, Figs. 7 and 12, extending longitudinally of the rear face 54 of each of the bags.

The method of closing the bag bottoms 64 is shown in Figs. 13 and 14. It will be seen that the glue strips 76 and 78 are brought into longitudinal continuation by the forming of the bags, so that the bag end may be folded over upon itself along the score line 73, as shown in Fig. 14, to form a closed bag bottom. Simultaneously with the closing of the bottom, the pull tab 67 is formed, which it will be noted is not adhesively secured but extends freely from the face of the bag so that it may be readily gripped for manipulation. The complementary recess 84, Fig. 8, which is formed along the cut line 80 as the tab portions 67 are cut out, aids in manipulating the bag to open position, for filling and use.

In operation of the container and dispenser assembly,

the paper containers or bags may be placed within the dispenser casing 14 by removal of the casing from the wall mounting bracket 16 as heretofore described, whereupon the stack of paper containers will be resiliently urged against the forward Wall of the casing by the spring 46, with the pull tab 67 of the forwardmost bag extending through the cut-away casing section 40 associated with the casing opening 38, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The tongues or projections 4244 hold the lower end of the forwardmost bag in position so that it is not thrust outwardly through the casing opening 38 by the action of the looped body of the spring which is disposed in substantial opposition to the projections to reduce frictional resistance to withdrawal while effectively preventing accidental removal of the contents. To remove an individual bag from the dispenser the pull tab 67 is grasped so as to snap the forwardmost bag past the tongues 42 and 44, whereupon the bag may be withdrawn from the dispenser through the opening 38 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. As each container or bag is withdrawn, the remaining bags in the stack are constantly urged against the forward face of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the paper containers, upon withdrawal from the dispenser casing, may be readily manipulated to open position by the recess 84, and the bag used for the disposal of used sanitary napkins or the like, or other articles to be discarded, as heretofore described.

It will be seen that the invention thus provides a sanitary and appealing disposal unit, for the intended purpose, which is durable and easily refilled with discardable paper containers, the structure being of ready accessibility and convenience in use, and of low cost.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the specific structures shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A dispenser assembly for paper bags and the like equipped with pull tabs, and comprising a back member and a casing member having end and side walls and removably secured to the back member and forming therewith a receptacle for a supply of paper bags and the like, said casing member having a transverse dispensing aperture at one end of the face thereof, one edge of saidl aperture being spaced from the adjacent end wall and including a notch extending toward the opposite end of the casing member and through which the pull tabs are adapted to project, the opposite edge of said aperture being disposed adjacent and along the said adjacent end wall and having portions projecting slightly across said aperture to prevent inadvertent removal of a bag or the like and spaced outwardly of the transverse extent of said notch to reduce resistance to withdrawal and facilitate grasping of a pull tab and withdrawal of a bag or the like, and a spring having one end secured in the casing and having spaced leg portions at the opposite end thereof substantially parallel to the apertured face of the casing and extending substantially acros said aperture with each leg portion in substantial opposition to a corresponding one of said projecting portions for maintaining an outermost bag or the like in position thereagainst in position for ready access and removal.

2. A dispenser assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided a telescopic mounting between the spring and casing member with an adjacent portion of the spring disposed near the back member to prevent accidental release of the connection provided by the telescopic mounting during use of the assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 415,457 Hart Nov. 19, 1889 613,538 Varney Nov. 1, 1898 957,539 Berkebile May 10, 1910 1,124,140 Katayama Jan. 5, 1915 1,438,740 Alline Dec. 12, 1922 1,547,344 OConnor July 28, 1925 1,579,814 Hellstrom Apr. 6, 1926 1,646,101 Ordway Oct. 18, 1927 1,719,338 Parker July 2, 1929 1,719,690 Coons July 2, 1929 1,768,118 Cofrin June 24, 1930 1,853,497 Cofrin Apr. 12, 1932 1,944,794 Klinger Jan. 23, 1934 2,000,796 Swift et a1 May 7, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 399,497 France Apr. 23, 1909 616,487 France Oct. 29, 1926 

